The nominations are in.
In August, I asked readers to indulge my fantasy of having a Nappy Administration and submit nominations for president and members of the “kitchen” cabinet.
Since November is an election month in the real world, I figured this would be a good time to share a sampling of who you nominated to hold the top post, if nappiness were the only prerequisite.
This month I’ll share your fantasy picks for the presidential Mane Mama or Mane Man, and who you favor to be the Second Strands in Command.
In December, I’ll name the Power Naps that you picked to be the political advisors.
It should be of no surprise that Angela Davis — the professor and activist whose legendary Afro of the ’70s was both intimidating and empowering — got several nods for president. One reader wanted to take Nelson Mandela out of retirement and relocate him from South Africa to the White House. And another was kind enough to put Mosetta in the mix. One apparently love-struck respondent picked actor Denzel Washington “just because.”
Larry Derrick of Dallas picked for president Gary Dourdan, the actor who plays Warrick Brown on the popular TV series, “CSI.” He sports a wild and wooly Afro.
“The brother got the hair and the scowl for the job,” Derrick said.
His choice for vice president is Eddie Steeples, who plays Darnell Turner in the comedy “My Name Is Earl.”
“He sits in the background and keeps his mouth shut,” Larry notes. “After this last vice president, it would be a welcome change. And of course the hair. Love it.”
Jackie Jones, a dreadlocked reader from Washington, D.C., nominated George Clinton, the P-Funk elder statesman with the multi-hued mass of hair.
“It’s time for another Clinton in the White House,” Jackie says.
If Jackie gets her wish, I’m sure Brother George would see that we have “one nation under a groove” and would have a “kitchen” cabinet that would most definitely be kinky.
And how cool would it be to have the Air Force One presidential aircraft replaced with Clinton’s outer space chariot—The Mothership!
A more down-to-earth presidential nomination comes from reader Alice Phifer. She thinks we would benefit from having a female president who is ‘Beloved’ and has a way with words.
“Toni Morrison is my Nappy Nomination for president,” said Alice Pyburn-Phifer of Dallas, who picked one of her favorite authors. “Her photo on the cover of TIME magazine with her beautiful dreadlocks is a Thumbs up!”
Morrison was also nominated by several others readers, including Linda Ball, a journalist from Murphy, Texas, who said: “Toni is smart and well read — qualities our current leader does not seem to possess. Her lovely graying locks are beautiful and reflect the wisdom that grows from within.”
Linda thought about asking to remain nameless because she feared that her nomination of Barack Obama, the Democratic Senator from Chicago for vice president, would invite accusations that she is part of the “biased liberal media.”
“I’m really not sure how nappy his hair is,” Linda said of Obama, “But I’m just finishing up his amazing autobiography, and he certainly has a great nappy mind. If he runs for real, he’ll get my vote!”
Fight promoter Don King is who Joycelyn Matthews wants to see at the presidential helm. It’s hard to determine what texture King’s salt-and-pepper hair really is. It was probably born nappy, but today it looks more in shock than locked!
But this is a Democracy, and if Joycelyn feels that King should have a shot at the White House, who am I to disagree? I’m glad to see that Joycelyn nominated R&B singer India.Arie to be vice president. Her popular tune, “I Am Not My Hair,” might make a good campaign ditty for Don King, and it might even help him win over voters who are put off by hair that stands at attention.
India’s song could also become the national anthem, sending the world a message that it’s all good!
Next month, your nominees for the Kinky Kitchen Cabinet. It’s still not too late to weigh in!
